The story of the name Allder begins with a family in the Boernician tribe of the ancient Scottish-English border region. Allder is a name for a person who was the elder of two people, [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York, Harper & Row, 1956. Print bearing the same name or the name could have been derived from the Old English "ealdra," meaning "elder." Alternatively, the name could have a nickname for someone who was a "dweller at, or near, an elder tree." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print

Allder Early Origins

The surname Allder was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area. One of the first records of the family was John Eldar or Eldare de Corstorfin who was burgess of Edinburgh in 1423 and "the surname is also recorded in Aberdeen in 1447. John Elder, a renegade Scot, urged Henry VIII ('Bagcheeks') to invade Scotland, assuring him of the support of the Highland Clans. Andro Elder, was a reidare at Menmure in 1574." [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

Further to the south, "this surname is derived from a nickname 'the elder.' The usual form in the YorkshirePoll Tax is Senior, and this has become one of the strongly established surnames of that county." However, the YorkshirePoll Tax Rolls of 1379 does list Ricardus ye Elder. [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)

Allder Spelling Variations

Allder Spelling Variations

A lack of rules and the tendency of scribes to spell according to the sound of the word plagued medieval spelling. Not surprisingly, an enormous number of spelling variations appeared. Allder has been written Elder, Elders, Eldar, MacNoravaich and others.

Allder Early History

Allder Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Allder research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 189 and are included under the topic Early Allder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allder Early Notables (pre 1700)

Allder Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Allder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allder In Ireland

Allder In Ireland

Some of the Allder family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 223 words (16 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Many Scots crossed the Atlantic for North America hoping to escape poverty, as well as persecution. Much of their heritage was lost along the way and overtime. This century, however, Clan societies and highland games have allowed many ancestral Scots to recover their birthright. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Allder arrived in North America very early: James Elder who settled in New Hampshire in 1718; along with Thomas, followed by David, Isaac, John, Robert, Samuel, and Thomas; but perhaps the most famous of the settlers was the Reverend John Elder who formed and was Captain of the Paxtang Rangers, known as the Paxtang Boys in 1753.

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.

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The Allder Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Allder Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.